BEIJING, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Global investments in developing power generating capacity from green energy reached 140 billion U.S. dollars in 2008, overtaking those in carbon-based fuels for the first time in history, a UN Environment Program (UNEP) report showed.
The figures indicate, with the advance in green energy, such as from solar, wind and biomass sources, the world is now at a watershed in the development of low-carbon economy.
New types of energy and the low-carbon economy are casting more and more influence on the structure of each economy across the globe, the patterns of investing and manufacturing, and the way of live.
The changes are amazing given the fact that just a few years ago, high-cost, immature technology, as well as people's habitual and ever increasing dependence on oil prevented people from anticipating a promising prospect for the low-carbon economy.
The mentality began to change with soaring oil prices, more public awareness of climate change, and, in particular, the arrival of the global financial crisis.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner pointed out in March this year that the huge stimulus packages by various countries to tackle the financial crisis could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient society.
"This opportunity must not be lost," Steiner said. And now, countries across the world are taking actions to seize the chance.
In the United States, the development of green energy has been a pivotal chapter in the economic stimulus plan initiated by President Barack Obama, who set a goal of having 1 million plug-in hybrid vehicles in the country by 2015.
Obama also pledged to invest 15 billion dollars each year in the following decade to help create 5 million new green jobs and convert the traditional manufacturing centers in the country into clean technology leaders.
European countries were pioneers in adopting environment friendly measures in economic development although their initial efforts had been rather fragmented.
The European Commission announced in March 2009 that a total of105 billion euros (around 157 billion dollars) would be dedicated to "green projects" in the bloc by 2013, in a bid to improve employment and boost economic growth, and secure Europe's leadership in the field of green technology.
Britain, in particular, is a major advocate of low-carbon economy in Europe. Apart from addressing problems of environmental protection and climate change, it also pins hope on creating new business and job opportunities by developing, using and transferring low-carbon technologies.
According to an independent research, a plan on clean coal technology announced by Britain's Energy and Climate Change Ministry in April could bring 4 billion pounds (about 6.6 billion dollars) a year into the UK economy by 2030, and create between 30,000 to 60,000 jobs in engineering and manufacturing sectors.
The Japanese government also showed ambition to transfer to a low-carbon economy in a draft plan published in April.
It is reported that the scale of Japan's environment-linked market would expand from the 2006 level of 70 trillion yen (800 billion dollars) to 120 trillion yen (1380 billion dollars) in 2020, while a considerable increase in related job opportunities can also be expected once the draft gets passed.
China, as the world's largest developing country, has been actively engaged in a drive toward low-carbon economy.
Among the 4-trillion-yuan (586-billion-dollars) economic stimulus plan announced by the Chinese government in May, over 5 percent were to be directly invested in projects that will boost energy efficiency, reduce emissions and help with sustainable development, while nearly 10 percent were to promote innovation and industrial restructuring.
According to the UNEP, developing countries like China saw the largest increases in global investments in developing power generating capacity from green energy last year.
In short term, developing green energy and low-carbon economy may help lift the world out of the current trouble and push for a global economic recovery.
While in the long run, once breakthroughs are made in new energy technologies that will lead to lower global demand for oil, chances are that greenhouse gas emissions could stabilize or even go down. This will be a blessing for the world that aspires for a sustainable development.
In the meantime, a low-carbon trend will spur the development of a variety of related industries, and help change the patten of economic growth in the world as a whole.
